Method and apparatus for initiating, directing and constricting electrical discharge arcs

Abstract

A method and associated apparatus for initiating and guiding an electrical discharge arc. This method preferably comprises the steps of: providing a laser beam through a predetermined gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by a laser beam so as to cause vibrational excitation of the molecules and to define a beam path in a direction of desired electrical discharge; and propagating an electrical discharge arc so as to intersect the beam path, whereby the electrical discharge arc is directed along the beam path.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of initiating an electrical discharge arc, said method comprising the steps of: 
       (a) providing a laser beam through an arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (b) propagating an electrical discharge arc along said laser beam path and through said vibrationally excited molecules.  
     
     
       2. A method according to claim  1  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are maintained substantially continuously. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim  1  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are pulsed. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim  3  wherein the pulse of said laser beam ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole nanoseconds. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim  3  wherein the pulse of said electrical discharge arc ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole nanoseconds. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim  1  wherein said laser beam is maintained substantially continuously while said electrical discharge arc is pulsed. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim  1  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim  1  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, and carbon dioxide and wherein said molecules may be selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitrogen, cesium, and aromatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       9. A method of directing an electrical discharge arc along a first vector path, said method comprising the steps of: 
       (a) providing a laser beam through an arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path, said beam path directed along a first vector path comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (b) propagating an electrical discharge arc along a second vector path so as to intersect said first vector path, whereby said electrical discharge arc is directed along said first vector path and through said vibrationally excited molecules.  
     
     
       10. A method according to claim  9  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are maintained substantially continuously. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim  9  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are pulsed. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim  11  wherein the pulse of said laser beam ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole milliseconds. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim  9  wherein said laser beam is maintained substantially continuously while said electrical discharge arc is pulsed. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim  11  or  13  wherein the pulse of said electrical discharge arc ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole microseconds. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim  9  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim  9  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen. 
     
     
       17. A method of constricting an electrical discharge arc, said method comprising the steps of: 
       (a) providing a laser beam through an arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path, said beam path having a first cross-section area and comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (b) propagating an electrical discharge arc initially having a second cross-section area greater than said first cross-section area along said beam path and through said vibrationally excited molecules, whereby said electrical discharge arc is constricted so as to have a cross-section area less than said second cross-section area.  
     
     
       18. A method according to claim  17  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are maintained substantially continuously. 
     
     
       19. A method according to claim  17  wherein said laser beam and said electrical discharge arc are pulsed. 
     
     
       20. A method according to claim  19  wherein the pulse of said laser beam ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole milliseconds. 
     
     
       21. A method according to claim  17  wherein said laser beam is maintained substantially continuously while said electrical discharge arc is pulsed. 
     
     
       22. A method according to claim  19  or  21  wherein said pulse of said electrical discharge arc ranges in duration from whole seconds to whole microseconds. 
     
     
       23. A method according to claim  17  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       24. A method according to claim  17  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus for initiating an electrical discharge arc, said apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a source of an arc shielding gas;  
       (b) a laser adapted to provide a laser beam through said arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (c) a source of an electrical discharge arc adapted to provide an electrical discharge along said laser beam path and through said vibrationally excited molecules.  
     
     
       26. An apparatus according to claim  25  wherein said laser is adapted to maintain said laser beam substantially continuously, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to maintain said electrical discharge arc substantially continuously. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim  25  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus according to claim  27  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole milliseconds. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus according to claim  25  wherein said laser is adapted to maintain said laser beam substantially continuously, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to claim  27  or  29  wherein said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole microseconds. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus according to claim  25  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus according to claim  25  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, and carbon dioxide and wherein said molecules may be selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitrogen, alkali atoms, and aromatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       33. An industrial heat source adapted to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of welding, cutting, drilling, surface treating, and combinations thereof, said industrial heat source comprising an apparatus according to claim  25 . 
     
     
       34. An industrial heat source according to claim  33  additionally comprising a robotic device adapted to position said industrial heat source. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus for directing an electrical discharge arc along a first vector path, said apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a source of an arc shielding gas;  
       (b) a laser adapted to provide a laser beam through said arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path said beam path directed along a first vector path comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (c) a source of an electrical discharge arc adapted to provide an electrical discharge along a second vector path so as to intersect said first vector path, whereby said electrical discharge arc is directed along said first vector path and through said vibrationally excited molecules.  
     
     
       36. An apparatus according to claim  35  wherein said laser is adapted to maintain said laser beam substantially continuously, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to maintain said electrical discharge arc substantially continuously. 
     
     
       37. An apparatus according to claim  35  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus according to claim  37  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole milliseconds. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus according to claim  35  wherein said laser is adapted to maintain said laser beam substantially continuously, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc. 
     
     
       40. An apparatus according to claim  37  or  39  wherein said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole microseconds. 
     
     
       41. An apparatus according to claim  35  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       42. An apparatus according to claim  35  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, and carbon dioxide and wherein said molecules may be selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen. 
     
     
       43. An industrial heat source adapted to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of welding, cutting, drilling, surface treating, and combinations thereof, said industrial heat source comprising an apparatus according to claim  35 . 
     
     
       44. An industrial heat source according to claim  43  additionally comprising a robotic device adapted to position said industrial heat source. 
     
     
       45. An apparatus for directing an electrical discharge arc along a first vector path, said apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a source of an arc shielding gas;  
       (b) a laser adapted to provide a laser beam through an arc shielding gas, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path, said beam path having a first cross-section area and comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said gas; and  
       (c) a source of an electrical discharge arc adapted to provide an electrical discharge arc initially having a second cross-section area greater than said first cross-section area along said beam path and through said vibrationally excited molecules, whereby said electrical discharge arc is constricted so as to have a cross-section area less than said second cross-section area.  
     
     
       46. An apparatus according to claim  45  wherein said laser is adapted to maintain said laser beam substantially continuously, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to maintain said electrical discharge arc substantially continuously. 
     
     
       47. An apparatus according to claim  45  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc. 
     
     
       48. An apparatus according to claim  47  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole milliseconds. 
     
     
       49. An apparatus according to claim  45  wherein said laser is adapted to pulse said laser beam, and said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to maintain said electrical discharge arc substantially continuously. 
     
     
       50. An apparatus according to claim  47  or  49  wherein said source of an electrical discharge is adapted to pulse said electrical discharge arc in pulses ranging in duration from whole seconds to whole microseconds. 
     
     
       51. An apparatus according to claim  45  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       52. An apparatus according to claim  45  wherein said arc shielding gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, and carbon dioxide and wherein said molecules may be selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen. 
     
     
       53. An industrial heat source adapted to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of welding, cutting, drilling, surface treating, and combinations thereof, said industrial heat source comprising an apparatus according to claim  45 . 
     
     
       54. An industrial heat source according to claim  53  additionally comprising a robotic device adapted to position said industrial heat source. 
     
     
       55. A method of directing a natural lightning discharge through the earth's atmosphere and along a first vector path to the earth, said method comprising the steps: 
       (a) providing a laser beam through the earth's atmosphere and along a first vector path, said gas comprising molecules amenable to vibrational excitation by said laser beam, so as to define a beam path, said beam path directed along a first vector path comprising molecules vibrationally excited by said laser beam without substantially heating said atmosphere; and  
       (b) allowing a natural lightning discharge to propagate along a second vector path so as to intersect said first vector path, whereby said natural lightning discharge is directed along said first vector path and through said vibrationally excited molecules to the earth.